Drill pipe orienting tool



9, 4 0. ST. J. BRENNER 5' AL 2,207.505

DRILL PIPE ORIENTING TOOL 6 7 a 0 6 J RR., J 4 A 4 flwfilux 6 Jun mg m H MP N F Nam R E 0 WM 6 1mm A RM a my @f F a Original Filed April 5, 1935 Posted July 9, 1940 DRILL PIPE OBIENTING TOOL Carl St. 1. Bremner, Santa Barbara, and Charles M. Potter, Glendale, Calif.

Application April 5, 1935, Serial No. 14.842 Renewed October 19, 1938 11 Claims.

Our invention relates to a simple means for orienting a drill pipe or other pipe in the bore of a well.

In the drilling of oil wells it has become the practice at certain stages of the drilling operation to orient the drill pipe and whatever device is connected to the lower end thereof for the purpose of determining the position of the drill pipe and of the device, tool, etc., relative to known objects or directions. For example, in the taking of a core it is desirable to know in which direction some indication or marking on the core barrel is facing at the time the core is broken loose from the formation so that when the core is taken from the core barrel, the direction and inclination of the strata may be determined. There are a number of other conditions under which it is desirable to orient a part in a well, among which is the use of a string of drill pipe with fishing tools, deflection tools, and survey machines. The customary practice in orienting drill pipe is by the use of sighting clamps on the drill-pipe, which clamps are sighted on some distant object and are moved from joint to joint of the drill pipe as such drill pipe is moved vertically, the intended purpose of such clamps being to keep track of the amount of rotation that takes place while the said pipe is being lowered into the hole or withdrawn from the hole so that the orientation of some lower part or point in the drill pipe may be determined. Such practice cannot compensate for the twists or torque which may occur in the drill pipe as 'it moves in the hole below the surface of the ground and is therefore out of control of the workers. and the multiplicity of operations in setting and reading the clamps induces personal errors on which there is no check.

Our present invention provides a means and a method for orienting the lower portion of a drill pipe in a well without the use of sight clamps on the drill pipe above the surface of the groimd and without the necessity for any attempt to prevent rotation of the drill pipe during its vertical movement.

It is an object of our invention to provide in a string of pipe adapted to be lowered into a well a member. such for, example as a tubular part defining .a location or position in the drill pipe, and an orienting member adapted to be moved downwardly through the drill pipe into the previously named member, there being means at such location in the drill pipe for rotating the orienting member-on its vertical axis into a definite position relative to a known indication or marking on the drill pipe, together with an indicator connected to the orienting member or forming a part thereof for showing the position of the orienting member when it is in the known location ln the well, the term "position" meaning 5 ordinarily the inclination or the direction in which some known part or indicating member of the orienting member is facing, or both.

In the preferred practice of the invention the location defining member preferably consists of m a tube disposed within a drill collar at the lower end of the drill pipe. To this collar any desired attachment or tool may be secured. At any time during the drilling operation the orienting member, with its included recording device, may lowered into the tubular member, and a record may be procured which will either directly show the position of the drill collar and its attached tool or device, or will give data from which the desired information may be determined.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tubular member which may be incorporated in a string of drill pipe. and preferably in the lower part thereof, having an inwardly faced projection which will be engaged by the orienting member when it is moved downwardly to the tubular member through the string of drill pipe, the orienting member being provided with a spiralled cam which, through its engagement with the prolection, will cause the orienting member to rotate into a definite position relative to the projection.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the above character in which the projection set forth in the preceding paragraph is made in the form of a vertically elongated key, and in which the orienting member comprises abar having a point at its lower end and a pair of oppositely spiralled cam faces leadingupwardlyfrom thepointofthebartoa slot orpocketinwhichthekeymaybereceivedwhen so the orienting member is moved downwardly to the proper position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drill pipe with a tubular member having akeythereinandatubularsectionabovethe partoontainingtheksywhichismadeofanor made also of non-magnetic material. for holding the recording device in operative position.

A further oblect of the invention is to provide a device of the above character in which the position or orientation of the recording device relative to the ennsins part of the orienting memll 2 ber may be determined be considered a means or established. This may ior aligning the respective parts with respect to orientation or means.

for determining the alignment or-disalignment of such parts so thatdefinite corrections may be made in the data obtained irom the recordin device. For example, the orienting member may be equipped with parts connected together in such a manner that a definite position oi the recorder is established relative to the drill pipe and to the tool attached'thereto. On the other hand, thecooperating parts oi the orienting to the keyway or pocket member may be provided with indicia by which the relative positions oi these respective parts,

one to the other, may be noted, and irom which the exact position oi the recording device relative at the lower end oi the orienting member may be determined. Since the pocket oi the orienting member is automatically rotated into alignment with the key held in the drill pipe, and its attached tool or device face may be readily determined irom the record produced by the 'recordin' device.

Fig. l is'a sectional view showing a preferred form of our invention the bore oi a well.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged iace view oi the lower part of the orienting member shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a cross section takenas indicated by thelineHoiFigl. Fig. 4 is a view oi the lower end oi the orientin in operative position in member.

a placed within drill pipe.

Fig.-5 is a cross section on a plane representedby the 'line 5- -5 oi Fig. 2.

Fig,- 6 is a partly sectioned view oi the shell employed .at the upper-end oi the orienting member ior holding the recording device.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertically sectioned view oi the recorder. which is inserted-in the shell shown in'Fig. 6 when the orienting device. is ready ior use. Fig. 8 is a cross section taken as indicatedby the line H oi Fig. '7, to show one iorm oi indicatingmeans. v

m Fig. l oi the drawing we show a.drill what It connected to the lower end oi a string Ii oi This drill collar ll may have any type oi drilling tool or device connected to the lower end thereoi, as indicated by dotted lines II. The drillcollar ll may be properly considered a part oi the string oi pipe string, and accordingly the key I! which projects inwardly within the drillcollar II' may be defined as an inwardly iaced projection in the drill pipe. The projection or cured in place by useoi the against movement therein by .welds is at the ends thereoi. The tubular member ll has a vertically elongated'opening through which the key II is a steel tube is which is proiected into the the direction in which. the drill pipe iorming the drilling key -iI is preierably se-.

drill collar ill and is held' or slot II in the wall thereoi the axial passage oi the The key it is secured in to the wall oi the tubular bore l1 forming a part of string of drill pipe. place by welding it member ll.

Within that part oi the string oi pipe i I shown in Fig. l, we show a member- II, which by reason oi its utility may be termed the orienting member. This member has the iunction oi determining the'direction in which selected parts oi the drilling string iace relative to some known di rection. Cooperating between the drilling string and the orienting member are parts whichautomatically cause radial alignment" oi the orienting member with the drilling string, in addition to axial alignment oithese parts.

By "radial alignment" is meant the rotation oi the-orienting member so that a known radial line or plane oi the orienting member will coincide with a' known radial line oi the selected part of the drilling string. In other words, the key l3 definitely defines a radial plane in which the aids oi the tubular member it lies. When the orienting member is lowered into the position in which itis shown in Fig. i, it is automatically turned so that a defined or-known radial plane extendcam faces 23 at ing outwardly from its axis will coincide with the radial plan'e defined bythe key It. To accomplish this radial alignment, the orienting member is has a lower part II consisting oi a bar iormed with an eccentric point 22 (Fig. 2) at its lower end and iormed above the point so as to.provide a pair of oppositely sloped spiral iaces 23. The the lower end oi-the bar 1i iace in oppositedirections and are substantially parallel. Asthese cam iaees swing upwardly, they rotate through angles oi nearly so that the upper end portions 24 thereoi areparallel, but iace each other. and iorm the mouth of a pocket or slot 25 which extends vertically in the-iace oi the bar 2| and is.oi such width that it will re-' ceive the key It. The upper end oi the slot 25 stops at a shoulder per end oi the key I! when the orienting member is lowered into a position oi complete engagement with the key It. a

The upper end oi the key I! is preierably sharpened to wedge or chiselshape, and. when the downwardly i n'oying orienting member it reaches the key l3. one oi the cam iaoes I} will engage the upper portion oi'the key II, and as the orienting member it continues to move downwardly, the reaction oi the cam Time 23 silainstthe-keyl} will cause the orientinggpem- -ber'll to rotate so that the key I! will finally 28 which rests against the up- A recording device is connected to or iorms I part oi the orienting member il. character are well known, and a number of such devices are now being made operating on diiiere'nt principles. For example, in such device may' be a compass -either oi magnetic or gyroscoplc 'character, and a dial against which the posi-, tion oi the compass needle may be viewed, to.

gether with means ior, indicating the inclina- Devices oi this tionoi the supporting structure carrying the recording device. The record at the compass reading'hnd inclination, at a desired time, may be obtained mechanically. or photographically. In view oi the iact that devices oi this character are well known, we shall not attempt t illustrate the same-herein in detail. For simplicity oi illustration we merely show in diagrammatic iorm a recording-device il disposed within-a sleeve 3i which forms the upper part of the orienting member is.

The sleev 3| may be open at its lower end and may be connected to the bar 2! by means of -a section 32 of non-magnetic metal. The sleeve 3! is also made from non-magnetic metal, as is also the length or section of pipe which forms a part of the drilling string il immediately above the collar In so that the recording device 30 will be entirely surrounded by non-magnetic metal. As shown in Fig. 6, the sleeve member Si is internally threaded at its lower end and has a key 34 near the upper end thereof, which ke 34 may be engaged by an aligning slot 35 in t e upper part of the shell 36 of the recording device 30. When the recording device 30 is placed in the opening 31 within the sleeve It, the slot 35 is caused to receive the key 34 so that the recording device 30 will be moved into a definite position of alignment with the key 34. As shown in Fig. 1, the exterior of thesleeve II has a mark 38 thereon which may be caused to assume a position, such as a position of alignment, relative to a mark 39 on the upper end of the connecting member 32, when the parts 11 and 82 are screwed together. Likewise the lower end of the connecting member 32 may have a mark 40 which may be caused to assume a definite relation to a mark H on the upper end of the lower part or bar ll of the orienting member ID. Accordingly, the orienting member II has means for orienting the recording device 30 with the slot or pocket 25 at the lower end of the orienting device,- and the record which is produced .in the recording device is therefore a means for orienting, or determining the position of, the key I; which forms the projection within the drill pipe and which indicates the axial alignment of the part, tool, or device I! which may be secured to the lower end of the drill pipe. For the purpose of aligning the member I! with the key it, or orienting the same relativeto the key it, a narrow channel or mark 44 may be formed in the lower end of the drill collar Ill in the same radial plane as the key i3. Furthermore, the key ll may .be referred to as a reference member for the reason that it faces in a known direction with reierencc to the mark 44 on the'member ID or some known portion 0! the tool i2 which is connected to the member ID. Likewise, the key I! is the part with reference to which the orienting member is positioned before the record is made.

The upper end of the sleeve member Si is connected to a non-magnetic bar 45 which may be provided with threads 48 to which a cable socket 41 may be secured so that a cable or wire line 48' may be secured for the purpose oi lowering the orienting member it down through the drill pipe II and then lifting the orienting member I! again to the surface after the records of orientation and inclination have been obtained by the recording device ll. This we believe to be a preferred manner oi using the invention in view of the fact that it enables the operator to obtain a record of orientation or inclination, or both, through the simple expedient of lowering the orienting member down through the string of drill pipe on a wire line and again pulling it to the surface. This new method of use avoids the necessity of pulling the drill recording device to the surface, but it is to be understood that the inclusion of this preferred method does not place any limitation upon the use of the device, since it may be moved downwardly into the well to recording position, and

'cally shown in Fig.

movement when pipe to bring a then removed from the well, in other manners. For example. the orienting member may be pumped down through the string of drill pipe and left in place in the tool joint Ill until the string of drill pipe is raised to the surface. Likewise, the orienting member may be pumped down through the drill pipe to its position of' operation and may be then removed by flotation or by reversing a flow 'of drilling liquid upwardly through the interior of the drill pipe to pump the orienting member to the surface.

The orienting device further provides a means for orienting the record relative to the remaining part of the equipment. As previously explained, the slot 35 in the shell 36 of the recording device 30, engaging the key 34 within the shell 3|, aligns the case or shell 30 of the orientingdevice with the key 14 and likewise with the markings 38, II, 40, and 4i. As diagrammatil, the record may consist of a photographic plate 50 which may be made of paper with a sensitized coating, and which is insertable and remov ble through a slot 5| in the side of the casing or snail 30 and which may be pressed into operative position against a glass plate I! by means-of a rotatable block 53 having a spiral cam thereon for causing its vertical it is rotated. Disposed within the shell 30 at a distance above the record or plate 50, is a compass 54 which floats in a chamber of liquid 55, having a transparent lower wall .58. Small lights 51 are disposed in such position just above the plate 60 so as to intercept light rays which are passing to the plate 50 and thereby record its position. Projecting inwardly from the wall of the shell 38, in a position relatively close tothe glass 52, is a pointer 6| which is preferably aligned with the slot or keyway 35. This pointerti also intercepts light rays which are passing downwardly toward the sensitized plate I! so as to leave a record of the position of the pointer 6| on the sensitized plate, thereby producing an indication on the sensitized plate, and likewise on the record which is developed from the sensitized plate, whereby the record may be oriented relative to the keyway 35 and the remaining parts of the orienting device. The type 0! recording device which we have shown in Fig. 'I has flashlight batteries 83 contained in a compartmentat the lower end thereof, and also has a time controlled switch 84 for connecting the batteries 63 and the lamps 51 in circuit at a given time, whereby to produce the light rays necessary for transmitting the images of the compass, pendulum, and pointer to the sensitimd plate 50.

Although we have herein shown and described our invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative or other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details 'disclosedherein but is to be accorded the full scope of the following claims.

We claim as our invention:

1.,An orienting device of scribed for use with a string of pipe adapted to be lowered into a well, including: a tubular member forming a part or said string of pipe, said tubular member having an inwardly faced prothe character dejection; and an orienting member adapted to be moved downwardly through said string of pipe to said tubular member, said orienting member comprising a lower part having a spiral cam face leading upwardly to a pocket, said cam face be- 'ing adapted to engage said projection and cause orientation relative to said sleeve, and said re cording device having a record element upon which it reproduces an indicia showing the radial position of said record relative to said tubular member.

2. An orienting device of the character described for use with a string of pipe adapted to be lowered into a well, including: a tubular member forming a part of said string of pipe, said tubular member having an inwardly faced projection; and an orienting member adapted to be moved downwardly through said string of pipe to said tubular member, said orienting member comprising a lower part having a point at the lower end thereof and a pair of oppositely spiralled cam face leading upwardly to a pocket for receiving said projection, either of said cam faces being adapted to engage said projection and cause rotation of said orienting member to bring said pocket into alignment and engagement with said projection, a non-magnetic member connected to the upper end of said lower part, said non-magnetic member comprising a sleeve with an inwardly projecting key, and a container for a recording device adapted'to be inserted in said sleeve so as to be held therein, said container having a keyway for engaging said key soas to hold said container in a definite position of orientation relative to said sleeve, and said recording device having a record element upon which it reproduces an indicia showing the radial position of said record relative to said tubular member.

3. In combination, a hollow drill stem; a tool carried by the drill stem as the instrument is lowered and adapted to be oriented by rotation of the stem; an instrument arranged to pass through the drill stem and arranged to occupy a predetermined final longitudinal position therein adjacent the tool, said instrument containing means for indicating orientation,, and means for recording the indication of the orienta tion indicating means; and interengaging means on the inside of the drill stem and the outside of said instrument for effecting rotary movements of the instruments relative to the drill stem for causing the instrument to assume a predetermined position relative to said tool when in said final longitudinal position.

4. In combination, a hollow drill stem; a tool carried by the drill stem and adapted to be oriented by rotation of the stem; an instrument arranged to pass through the drill stem and arranged to occupy a predetermined final longitudinal position therein adjacent the tool, said instrument containing means for indicating orientation, and means for recording the indications of the orientation indicating means; said drill stem including a hollow element of reduced bore at said predetermined position to receive at least part of said instrument and substantially align it with the axis of the drill stem, and interengaging means on the inside of the drill stem and the outside of said instrument for effecting rotary movements of the instrument relative to the drill stem as the instrument is lowered for causing the instrument to assume a predetermined posltion relative to said tool in said final longitudinal position.

5. In combination, a hollow drill stem; a tool carried by the drill stem and adapted to be oriouted by rotation of the stem: an uistruuwuii arranged to pass through the drill stem and arranged to occupy a predetermined final longitudinal position therein adjacent the tool, said instrument containing means for indicating inclination and means for recording the indications of the inclination indicating means; and interengaging means on the inside of the drill stem and the outside of said instrument for effecting rotary movements of the instrument relative to the drill stem as the instrument is lowered for causing the instrument to assume a predetermined position relative to said tool when in said final longitudinal position.

6. In combination, a hollowdrill stem; 9. tool carried by the drill stern and adapted to be oriented by rotation of the stem; 'an instrument arranged to pass through the drill stem and arranged to occupy a predetermined final longitudinal position therein adjacent the tool, said instrument containing means for indicating inclination and means for recording the indications of the inclination indicating means; said drill stem including a hollow element of reduced bore at said predetermined position to receive at least part of said instrument and substantially align it with the axis of the drill stem, and interengaging means on the inside of said bore and r tudinal position therein adjacent the tool, said instrument containing means for indicating inclination and means for recording the indications of the inclination indicating means; said drill stem including a hollow element of reduced bore at said predetermined position to receive at least part of said instrument and substantially align it with the axis of the drill stem, and means for designating the oriented relationship of the instrument and drill stem when the instrument is in said final longitudinal position.

8. The method of orienting a tool within a bore hole including lowering the tool into the bore hole on a hollow drill stem, the lower portion of which drill stem carries an engaging element, lowering within the drill stem an instrument containing means for indicating azimuth and means for recording the indications of the azimuth indicating means, said instrument being provided with an engaging element arranged, in cooperation with the first mentioned engaging element, to turn and orient saidinstrument relative to the drill stem, said lowering oi. the instrument being to a point where said elements cooperate to turn and orient said instrument relative to the drill stem; thercaiter causing said recording means to operate; withdrawing said instrument; anti rotating the drill stem to bring the tool into a predetermined azimuthal position.

9. The method of orienting a tool within a bore hole including lowering the tool into the bore hole on a hollow drill stem, the lower portion of which drill stern carries an engaging olement, lowering within the drill stem an instrument containing means for indicating inclination and means (or recording the indications oi the inclination indicating means, said instrument being provided with an engaging element arranged, in cooperation with the tint mentioned engaging element, to turn and orient said instrument relative to the drill stem. said lowering of the instrument being to a point where said turnand orient said instrument relative to the drill stem; thereafter causing said recording means to operate; withdrawing said instrument; and rotating the drill stem to bring the tool into a predetermined azimuthal position.

10. A well surveying apparatus comprising a sleeve fixed within a drill string and having an open upper end, a well surveying instrument adapted to be lowered within the drill string, said instrument being fitted at. its lower end with a mandrel which will sea within the sleeve, cooperating means between the mandrel and the sleeve for placing the mandrel in a position of known orientation with relation to the sleeve, means within the instrument to produce a record indicating the direction of the declination oi the drill string, and means acting automatically to produce said rehord when the instrument is seated within the sleeve. I

11. A well surveying apparatus comprising a sleeve fixed within a drill string and having an open upper end, a well surveying instrument adapted to be lowered within the drill string, said instrument being fitted at its lower end with a mandrel which will seat within the sleeve, cooperating means between the mandrel and the sleeve for placing the mandrel in a position oi known orientation with relation to the sleeve, means within the instrument to produce a record indicating the direction of the declination oi the drill string and the degree oi the same, and means acting automatically to produce said record when seated within said sleeve.

12. A well surveying device comprising a sleeve adapted to be mounted well surveying instrument adapted to be lowered within the drill string, said instrument comprising a mandrel at its lower end which is lowered to a fixed seated position circumferentially within for rotating the mandrel elements cooperate to said sleeve, and means to a definite position of orientation with relation to the sleeve, and means for producing a record within the instrument indicating the position of orientation of the in strument, and means for producing said record when the mandrel has reached its fixed position with relation to the sleeve.

13. A well surveying apparatus comprising a drill string carrying a tool in a known fixed position of orientation with respect to the drill string, an instrument catcher within the drill stringad- Jacent its lower ;end, a recording instrument adapted to be lowered through the drill string to a seated position within the catcher, cooperatwithin a drill string, a

both longitudinally and ing means between the catcher and the instrument to rotate the instrument to a tiled seated position oi orientation with relation to the catcher, a recording element within the instrument held in tired relation to the instrument. means within the instrument responsive to declination o! the instrument, and means actins when the instrument has reached its seated position within the catcher to produce a record of declination upon the recording element,

l4. Ileana for positioning a tool in a well comprising a drill line, said line including a tubular section having a longitudinally extending key therein, said section being located above the tool, an elongated aligning pin for fitting in the tubular section, said pin having a longitudinally extending keyway therein having its lower end open for receiving the key, means on the aligningv pin (or automatically directing the key into the keyway as the aligning pin is lowered into the key carrying section, said key being in predetermined relationship with the tool, a photographic surveying instrument connected to the upper end of the aligning pin and including a compass, a marker positioned in alignment with the keyway, and means for photographicaliy recording the relative positions 0! the marker and compass, and means for lowering the instrument withthe aligning pin thereon into the drill line and ior removing said parts from the drill line.

lb A well surveying apparatus comprising a catcher disposed in a fixed position both longitudinally and circumierentially within a drill pipe, said pipe carrying a tool at its lower end fixed in known orientation with the pipe, a well surveying instrument adapted to be lowered into the drill string and to a fixed position oi rest within said catcher, cooperating means between the catcher and the instrument for designating the oriented relationship of the catcher and instrument when the instrument comes to rest, and means within the instrument to produce a record indicating the oriented position of the instrument relative to the catcher.-

16. A well surveying apparatus comprising a catcher disposed in a fixed position both longitudinally and circumierentially within a drill pipe, said pipe carrying a tool at its lower end fixed in known orientation with the pipe, a well surveying instrument adapted to be lowered into the drill string and to a fixed position of rest within said catcher, cooperating means between the catcher and the instrument for designating the oriented relationship of the catcher and instrmnent when the instrument comes to rest, and means within the instrument to produce a record indicating the oriented position of the instrument relative to the catcher and the degree of declination or the drill string.

17. A well surveying apparatus comprising a catcher within a drill pipe, a tool carried by the pipe and with which said catcher is in known orientation, a well surveying instrument adapted to be lowered through the drill pipe to a position of rest within the catcher, cooperating means between the instrument and the catcher for designating the oriented relationship or the catcher to the instrument when the instrument comes to rest, and means the oriented relationship said tool.

01 the instrument to CARL ST. J. BREMNER. CHARLES M. POTTER.

for making a record of CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIQN. Patent No. 2,207,505. 7 July 9, 191m.

CARL ST. J. BRENNER, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above nunibered patent requiring correction as follows: Page )4, first colxmxn, lines 51 and 52, claim 5, strike out the words 'as the instrument is lowered! and insert the same after "stem" in line 62, same claim; line 62, same claim 5, for "instruments" read "instrument"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of September, A. D. 19L|.0.

, Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

